Hi Linux Gurus....

I am very new to the linux and my expertise in Solaris.
Looking your great help in this

1.How do we configure HBA cards in RHEL 5?
2.HBA Configuration for RedHat Operating System to boot from SAN?
3.Multipath configuration and commands?

request your help in this..Thanks a ton!!!!!!

Not an expert myself but I'll try my best....

> 1.How do we configure HBA cards in RHEL 5?

Not really sure what configuration you want to do on the HBAs. Generally you just need to install the HBA drivers, physically connect the fibre cables, configure switch zoning, associate the WWIDs of the HBAs with a host on the SAN and then assign storage to that host.

> 2.HBA Configuration for RedHat Operating System to boot from SAN?

As far as I know this is a function of the HBA BIOS and there isn't any OS configuration.

> 3.Multipath configuration and commands?

If you're using an EMC SAN you can use PowerPath. Install and register the EMCpower utility and then start the PowerPath service. You'll probably also want to install the Navisphere utilities. At this stage you should start seeing devices in /dev called emcpowera, emcpowerb, etc. Use these devices instead of /dev/sdd, /dev/sde etc.

If it's not an EMC SAN you can use udev for multi-pathing. There's a good Oracle article on udev at http://expobadge.com/dldev/dc/file/L...ASM_final9.pdf

HTH

Phil

I think the previous post addresses your questions already, but I'd add: these questions are very much HBA / SAN specific. Read the vendor documentation carefully.

1: By default the drivers of the most common HBAs (QLogic and/or Emulex) are installed when you're doing a standard installation. Now, when you're booting the box you may need to configure some settings in the BIOS of the HBA. Haven't worked with Emulex for a while but I think it's CTRL-E to enter the menu. For QLogic it's CTRL-Q. The setting you're looking for is the HBA speed. If you want to go deeper you may want to change the connection type (point-to-point etc, but the defaults will do). If you're using another HBA, I'm afraid I can't help you

2: Now, that's a tricky one. I currently have a very nice pdf that explains everything but for Windows (sorry... work related). First I would suggest to think WHY do you want Boot from SAN but I guess since you're asking you have made your mind so I won't bother. Your best chance is to Google it. Although if you are using EMC the best reference would be the site: powerlink.emc.com You may need to register of course.

3: Again ONLY if you are using EMC then...: Only powerpath is needed. The Navisphere agent only translates the HBA's WWN (World Wide Name) into something more... human readable. You really don't need it unless you're connecting about 100+ hosts. Although the latest version of Powerpath takes the name of the Host and presents it into the Connectivity Status window in the GUI of the SAN. If you register to the powerlink.emc.com site you'll be able to download the linux version. You can use it without a license but you will not have load balancing. For the rest of the SAN vendors, I'd say google it

Good luck!